Tax season doesn't have to mean overtime, blackout dates, and pizza-party morale boosts. Marcus and Rachel walk through the operational decisions and team structures that keep DBA running at 36 hours a week year-round. From Flex Fridays and unlimited PTO to ditching 1099 prep for annual-only clients, rethinking which client relationships to keep, and using video commentary and text messaging to meet clients where they are.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (02:23) - Life Update: Moving to Fort Worth
• (12:20) - Tax Season Norms and Firm Practices
• (27:31) - Flexible Work Hours and PTO Policies
• (29:16) - Transition to Unlimited PTO
• (32:20) - Team Collaboration and PTO Planning
• (36:08) - Client Services and Team Structure
• (46:43) - Refinement and Client Evaluation
• (49:47) - Tax Advisory Plan (TAP)
• (56:20) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

Marcus and Rachel sit down with Amy McCarty to unpack the reality of DBA's two 2025 acquisitions—from pre-close team meetings and tech stack migrations to payment processor transitions and the decision to space deals 90 days apart. They share specific timelines, technology consolidation wins and challenges. This is the acquisition conversation focused on what happens after everyone stops congratulating you.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:47) - Amy Background and Role
• (02:36) - Discussing Recent Acquisitions
• (04:20) - Growth and Team Expansion
• (07:15) - Pre-Acquisition Planning
• (13:56) - Onboarding and Integration
• (30:01) - Introduction to the 2025 Tech Stack
• (30:36) - Building the Azure Environment
• (31:28) - First Acquisition: Technology Integration
• (34:24) - Second Acquisition: Technology Integration
• (38:37) - Managing Legacy Systems
• (47:40) - Payment Systems and Client Invoicing
• (51:48) - Engagement Letters and Standardization
• (54:14) - Conclusion and Future Plans

Rachel and Marcus unveil the DBA Impact Fund, a donor-advised fund through National Christian Foundation that channels 1% of every revenue dollar toward charitable causes. They share how they chose Living Water International as their primary charity partner, including plans to purchase and install water wells with the team in 2027, and explain their unique approach to employee giving through $1,000 birthday gifts to charities of each team member's choice.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Introduction and New Year Greetings
• (01:00) - Defining Positive Impact
• (02:09) - Reflecting on 2025 and Setting 2026 Goals
• (06:35) - Creating the DBA Impact Fund
• (08:59) - Implementing the DBA Impact Fund
• (16:01) - Choosing Living Water International
• (19:19) - Mission Trip Experiences
• (25:23) - Reflecting on Past Experiences
• (25:55) - Living Water Mission Trips
• (26:58) - Roles and Responsibilities on Trips
• (27:42) - Engaging with Local Communities
• (28:21) - Fun and Games with Children
• (29:29) - DBA Impact Fund Introduction
• (31:47) - Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries
• (35:36) - Measuring Impact and Sharing Stories
• (37:05) - Supporting Team Members
• (39:28) - Creating a Culture of Gratitude
• (42:00) - Setting Up Impact Channels
• (44:24) - Conclusion and Future Goals

Marcus and Rachel break down the five essential KPIs that drive firm value, using real data from over 200 accounting firms. They reveal how the average firm in their network decreased owner production hours by 12% while growing revenue by 10%, and share the exact backwards mapping framework they use to identify which levers to pull for improvement. Marcus also walks through DBA's 2024 price increase strategy that netted a 4% revenue gain despite losing $12,000 in monthly recurring clients.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Introduction and Life Updates
• (06:28) - Transition to Business Discussion
• (07:32) - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Overview
• (12:36) - Gross Revenue Insights
• (17:15) - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
• (23:11) - Revenue per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
• (27:17) - Earnings Before Owner Compensation (EBOC)
• (28:28) - Understanding EBOC and Valuation
• (29:47) - Profitability Trends and Analysis
• (30:48) - EBOC and Market Attractiveness
• (33:03) - Owner Production Hours and Efficiency
• (37:25) - Leveraging KPIs for Business Improvement
• (38:27) - Real-Life Examples of Business Levers
• (39:45) - Price Increases: Strategy and Impact
• (49:56) - Backward Mapping for KPI Improvement
• (53:34) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Rachel and Marcus break down their year-end team retreat planning process, from the leadership framework they used to set 2026 goals to the logistics of bringing 25+ remote team members together. They share what they celebrate with their team, why financial transparency has built trust, and how they structure two days to focus on relationships rather than technical content. After doubling revenue through two acquisitions and organic growth, they explain why their 2026 focus shifts from "growth, not comfort" to "lead change, create impact."

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (00:58) - Team Retreat Overview
• (04:15) - Leadership Planning Framework
• (13:08) - Retreat Logistics and Preparation
• (22:45) - Additional Retreat Activitiesy
• (32:09) - Spouses and Team Bonding
• (34:40) - Cost-Effective Team Events
• (35:31) - Leadership Team Goals and Transparency
• (38:39) - Retreats and Team Structure
• (39:54) - Team Changes and Vision Alignment
• (41:52) - Future Direction and Goals
• (53:44) - Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Nick Liguori shares how he transformed his New Hampshire accounting firm into a med spa specialist, growing to seven employees and approaching $1 million in revenue within five years. He discusses the strategic decision to niche down despite losing legacy clients, implementing Team of Three for better delegation and scalability, and cutting client onboarding time from 60 days to 30 days. Nick also reveals his pricing evolution from $200/month packages to $2,000+ premium services, plus how industry specific conferences can generate better ROI than traditional marketing.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (01:03) - Nick's Background and Firm Overview
• (01:49) - Best Advice Ever Received
• (04:06) - Finding a Niche in the Med Spa Industry
• (09:42) - Marketing Strategies for Med Spa Clients
• (15:47) - Service Tiers and Team Structure
• (24:25) - The Role of Keeper in Streamlining Processes
• (28:19) - Future Goals and Revenue Targets
• (30:07) - Reducing Client Onboarding Time
• (35:21) - Reflections on Starting a Firm
• (36:40) - Pricing Evolution and Onboarding Fees
• (39:58) - Benefits of Working with Collective by DBA

Marcus and Rachel recap Gather 2025, their fall event that brought 105 firm owners, leaders, and team members together in Grapevine, Texas. They walk through the four Ps framework for change management (purpose, picture, plan, and part) and share highlights from sessions on KPIs, firm valuation, AI agents, and collaborative problem-solving.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (01:45) - Event Details and Attendees
• (04:05) - Feedback and Highlights
• (09:10) - Upcoming Events
• (10:57) - Opening Session Insights
• (18:22) - Change Management Framework
• (23:14) - The Four Ps of Leading Through Change
• (24:53) - Importance of Defining Roles in Change
• (25:50) - Reflecting on Past Change Management
• (27:24) - Challenges for Leaders in Communicating Change
• (28:27) - Personal and Team Leadership in Change
• (29:14) - Event Recap: Setting the Stage for Success
• (32:26) - Diving into KPIs and Firm Performance
• (35:18) - Case Studies and Mastermind Groups
• (40:16) - Firm Challenges and Collaborative Solutions
• (44:02) - Innovative Use of AI and Technology
• (49:05) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

James and Cindy Buss join Rachel and Marcus to share their 20-year journey building Buss CPA in Hartford, South Dakota, from surviving the 2008 recession to transforming their business model around fixed-fee engagements. The conversation covers their transition from hourly billing to monthly recurring revenue, navigating price increases, building a committee-based client acceptance process, and what it's really like when the operations manager gives her retirement notice years in advance. Both couples offer candid insights about communication, community support, and why treating clients well matters more than perfect execution.

Learn More About Buss CPA
https://busscpa.us/

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (00:38) - Meet James and Cindy Buss
• (02:55) - James Introduces the Firm
• (06:50) - Cindy Shares Personal Life
• (19:41) - Cindy's Retirement Plans
• (23:21) - Evolution of the Firm
• (30:16) - Budgeting and Fee Structures
• (31:47) - Impact of Economic Downturns
• (33:25) - Goals and Initiatives
• (44:22) - Onboarding Fees and Client Management
• (49:35) - The Importance of Community and Peer Networks
• (59:31) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts